The National Commission on Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (NCAIDS) was an independent body created by Congress on November 14, 1988. Its mission was to "create a broad public agreement on the magnitude, scope and urgency of the HIV/AIDS epidemic, inspire leadership at all levels of both the public and private sector, and put in place effective, cooperative, and non-discriminatory systems and resources required for preventive education, comprehensive care, and the research effort necessary to halt the epidemic." Chaired by June Osborn, MD, the fifteen-member commission operated from August 3, 1989 to September 3, 1993, conducted dozens of site visits and hearings, and issued thirteen interim and three annual reports.

As part of its Profiles in Science project, the National Library of Medicine has made available online a digitized selection of the National Commission on Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome Records and the June E. Osborn Papers. This website provides access to the portions of the National Commission on Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome Records and the June E. Osborn Papers that are now publicly available in NLM Digital Collections. Individuals interested in conducting research using the full collection of the National Commission on Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome Records and the June E. Osborn Papers should contact the National Library of Medicine.

This Profile is designed to introduce you to the work of the National Commission on Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome. Narrative sections available from the navigation bar under “The Story” include a brief background on the AIDS epidemic, followed by sections detailing each of the commission’s four years.

Researchers can search the digitized items using the Search box or browse all Documents in the collection by selecting "Collection Items" from the navigation bar.